Lying Low

The only plants unaffected by the gales we've had over the last 36 hours are the most dwarf ones, with their growth  very low to the ground.   Everything else looks somewhere between a little windswept and rather battered.    These two seem unaffected.   Veronica oltensis, Thyme Leaf Speedwell, with the first of many tiny blue flowers opening and a plant which came to me as seed labelled Sedum sp, it's either a sedum or more likely a Rhodiola rosea.  It has succulent rosettes of leaves on an almost woody caudex with a central cluster of golden flowers.   The veronica came from Pottertons nursery at a show sales table a few years back, it roots as it runs so is easily propagated.   This one hasn't been phased by the move from Norfolk while the rhodiola seems indestructible.   Before being planted out here in the raised bed, it languished in a pot in my old greenhouse for some years, getting minimal attention and sometimes minimal water!    It has a connection with the rhododendron I showed recently as both originated from the AGS seed collecting expedition to China (ACE) back in 1994.   In this is a connection to the Veronica as Robert Potterton who sold me the Veronica, was  a member of the ACE seed collecting team all those years ago.   Small plants and a small world.

Work, phone calls, admin and stuff have made it a busy but productive day.   House insurance switched saving £50, discussions with dentist led to an appointment next week, signature witnessed and forms returned for the sale of the old house .... and an evening dog walk.   All good I think.